14.036
Brahmā said;
Know that unmanifested, unwavering, all-pervading, constant, stable nine-gated fortress (that is, the body) as possessing three qualities and composed of five elements. (14-36-1)
The eleventh enclosure is the mind, consisting of analytical reasoning, presided over by intellect; thus, this is considered the supreme eleventh. (14-36-2)
There are three channels which in this body are repeatedly nourished; these are indeed the three main nāḍīs, operating with the qualities. (14-36-3)
Darkness, activity, and goodness—these qualities are said (by sages) to be mutually connected, all existing in pairs and living by reliance upon each other. (14-36-4)
The five elements, endowed with three qualities, are mutually dependent, mutually following, and mutually interwoven. (14-36-5)
Sattva is paired with tamas; rajas is paired with sattva. Also, sattva may accompany rajas, and tamas is paired with sattva. (14-36-6)
Where darkness is restrained, there passion arises; where passion is restrained, there goodness arises. (14-36-7)
One should know that darkness, which is of the nature of night, is a product of the three guṇas and is called delusion, as characterized by unrighteousness, and always found in sinful actions. (14-36-8)
Rajas, they say, is indeed of the nature of activity and is the cause of transformation. Activity is seen in all beings as that which is characterized by origination. (14-36-9)
The illumination among all beings, lightness, and faithfulness is the sattvic form; thus, lightness determined by the good (the virtuous) is considered sattvic. (14-36-10)
Indeed, the principle of the qualities among these is explained by me with their causes and non-causes; those connected with both summary and detail, know them truly from me. (14-36-11)
Delusion, ignorance, lack of renunciation, indecisiveness regarding actions, dreaming, inertia, fear, greed, sorrow, and the corruption of virtue. (14-36-12)
Absence of memory, lack of maturation, atheism, deviant conduct, undistinguished nature, blindness, and the behavior of base qualities. (14-36-13)
To assume one has done what has not been done, to value knowledge in the absence of true knowledge; absence of friendship is a distorted state, and lack of faith is a deluded attitude. (14-36-14)
Crookedness, lack of consciousness, actions that are sinful, unconsciousness, heaviness, feebleness, blackness, and downward movement. (14-36-15)
All these qualities, O wise ones, are designated as qualities of tamas. Any other fixed states in this world are regarded as states of delusion. (14-36-16)
In each place, all those tamas-related qualities are restrained. Tales of blame are always about the gods, the brāhmaṇas, and the Veda. (14-36-17)
Excessive renunciation, pride, delusion, anger, impatience, and envy—this conduct among beings is considered to be tamasic (of darkness, ignorance). (14-36-18)
All actions undertaken in vain, and any useless gifts, as well as eating without purpose—this sort of conduct is regarded as belonging to darkness (tamas). (14-36-19)
Excessive talk, extreme forbearance, envy, excessive pride, and lack of faith are regarded as behavior dominated by tamas. (14-36-20)
But all such men here in this world, who are evil-doers and transgressors of boundaries, they are all people of tamas. (14-36-21)
I shall declare the birth assigned to those who commit evil deeds—those who go downward to animal or hellish states. (14-36-22)
Immovable beings and all living entities, animals, vehicles, as well as flesh-eaters, reptiles, worms, insects, and birds. (14-36-23)
All egg-born living beings, and also all four-footed creatures, those who are mad, deaf, dumb, and others who are afflicted with evil diseases. (14-36-24)
Those immersed in darkness, evil in conduct, defined by actions of their own making — these are described as possessed of tamas, their course flowing downward, immersed in darkness. (14-36-25)
I will now further explain the excellence and advancement of those, how the doers of virtuous deeds attain the meritorious worlds. (14-36-26)
But those who are otherwise engaged, though advanced in various actions, and also the Brāhmaṇas who are devoted to their own duties and wish for auspiciousness. (14-36-27)
Striving people ascend upwards by virtue of purification to association with the world; they go to the heaven of the gods. Thus, this is the Vedic scripture. (14-36-28)
But those who have adopted otherwise and grown in their own actions, possessing the propensity for repeated return, become humans again here. (14-36-29)
Those who are born of sinful wombs, such as caṇḍālas, or as the dumb and deaf, can also, by successive order, attain higher and higher castes. (14-36-30)
Having surpassed the śūdra birth, those other qualities related to tamas, having gathered in the midst of the stream, exist within the quality of tamas. (14-36-31)
Attachment to desires is called great delusion; here, even the seers, sages, and gods are deluded, desiring happiness. (14-36-32)
Darkness, delusion, great delusion, and tāmisra are terms known as wrath; death is called andhatāmisra, and tāmisra is called wrath. (14-36-33)
O sages, all this darkness has been explained to you in terms of nature, quality, origin, and essence, according to the proper method. (14-36-34)
Who indeed truly understands or sees this? One who perceives reality in what is unreal—that is the mark of one still under the characteristic of darkness. (14-36-35)
The qualities known as tamas have been described to you in many ways; the full range of darkness, both higher and lower, has been properly stated. The person who always knows these qualities is freed from all qualities born of darkness. (14-36-36)
